Zama-zamas damage Goudkoppie

Lentswe, Klerksdorp - Immeasurable damage was caused to the Goudkoppie Hill Heritage Site after zama-zamas moved in to mine illegally at the Goudkoppie.

According to Bert Gaffen, historian at the Klerksdorp Museum, the museum staff have complained to the police many times to remove these illegal miners and the police acted recently. Now the site is free from zama-zamas but the damage caused by them is huge.

“We appealed for the removal of these vandals on the grounds that they were breaking the Heritage Law,” said Gaffen.

“After being physically threatened, the museum staff dared not go there anymore. Now we have been back to witness the damage after they left.”

The site‘s blockhouse, mining shafts and Khoisan workshop have been damaged. The staff is still assessing just how serious the damage is.According to Gaffen, the sight is not fenced and that has to be addressed as soon as possible.